Method and apparatus for gaming based upon a paper ticket

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are provided for gaming based upon an instant-win ticket. The method and apparatus are for use with tickets of the type having a durable substrate carrying a predetermined hidden indicator indicating a prize amount, such as scratch-off lottery tickets. The apparatus includes an electronically controlled payment acceptor to automatically accept fungible payments, such as currency or tokens, from a user. An electronically controlled display, such as a slot-machine style set of rotating cylinders, is adapted to display continuously changing information to the user during game play. A controller is connected to the display and to the payment acceptor. The controller is adapted to control operation of the display and distribution of fungible prizes to a gamer, all in response to a prize amount read from the instant-win ticket. The apparatus includes a ticket-reader connected to the controller. The ticket reader is adapted to read the instant-win ticket and determine the prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator. The apparatus may be used to simulate a slot machine, with prizes determined by a paper ticket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/325,294, filed Sep. 26, 2001, whichapplication is specifically incorporated herein, in its entirety, byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for playing agame of chance, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus forsimulating a slot-machine when playing a paper ticket game, such as alottery.

2. Description of Related Art

The term “slot machine” is generally used herein to refer to anyautomatic machine designed to accept cash from a user in exchange forplaying a game of chance, and to pay a prize to the user depending onthe result of the game. The results of the game of chance are determinedby the slot machine. The user is not able to influence the probabilityof winning, although some machines may provide the user with limitedinfluence over individual game results (i.e., provide a “nudge”function) to make playing the machine more appealing. Cash may beaccepted in any suitable form, including as redeemable tokens, currencyor electronic credit. Similarly, prizes may be paid in any suitableform.

Las-Vegas style slot machines use spinning cylinders, flashing lights,bells or musical sounds, clinking tokens, and the like, to make playinga game of chance more engaging. Such machines are popular with gamblersthe world over. Over the years, gamblers have come to expect a slotmachine to typically include a pull arm for initiating a game, three orfour spinning cylinders with colorful symbols, and a hopper into whichwinnings are deposited in the form of currency or tokens. In modern slotmachines, the payout ratio of the machines can be electronically set.The outcome of each game is randomly determined, but the operator isable to determine the percentage of money deposited that will be paidout, so that over the long run, the house always wins. Most gamblersrecognize that slot machine gaming is, over the long run, designed to bea losing proposition for the player. Nevertheless, many are willing tospend long hours playing slot machines in an endeavor to beat the odds.The engaging and popular design of Los-Vegas style machines deservesmuch of the credit for creating this willingness to play.

Many institutions, such as state governments, sell paper gaming ticketsas a fund-raising technique. In particular, scratch-off lottery ticketsare popular with the public, and raise modest amounts of revenue forstate coffers. The use of paper tickets permits the issuer to easilycontrol the payout ratio while allowing a large number of peopledispersed over a large geographic area to play the same game.Scratch-off tickets became popular as a way to allow purchasers of thetickets to “instantly” determine the outcome of the game. Thisinnovation has enjoyed only limited success, perhaps partially becausemost people quickly become bored with scratching lottery tickets, and somuch the more when they understand that their chances of winning arepoor. Lower ticket sales, in turn, make it more difficult for thelottery operator to cover overhead costs, and payout ratios areaccordingly diminished, making the game still less appealing. Yet manypeople who seldom, if ever, purchase scratch-off lottery tickets arewilling to spend large amounts of money playing slot machines incasinos. Such people might be willing to play paper ticket games if thestyle of play were more engaging and entertaining. It is desirable,therefore, to provide a method and apparatus for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for making it moreinteresting and entertaining to play games of chance using aninstant-win (e.g., scratch-off) paper ticket. A ticket-reading machineis provided, that outwardly appears to be a slot machine, and morepreferably, a Las-Vegas style slot machine. In particular, the machineincludes a plurality of spinning cylinders with gaming symbols, or anelectronic display that emulates spinning cylinders. The machineincludes a source of lottery tickets (such as a roll of tickets). A userinitiates play as if operating a slot machine, such as by inserting atoken or currency, and pulling a lever. When play is initiated, thecylinders of the machine spin. The machine reads the next ticket on theroll, determines whether the ticket is a winning ticket, and if so, theamount won. If the ticket is a losing ticket, the cylinders stopspinning at a losing combination, and no prize is paid. If the ticket isa winning ticket, the cylinders stop spinning at a combination thatcorrelates to the amount of the prize. The prize is paid, preferably inthe form of currency or tokens, into a hopper, just like a traditionalslot machine.

Variations on operation of the system may include playing multipletickets at one time. For example, a user may elect to play any number oftickets that have been paid for in a single spin. In such case, themachine reads all of the indicated tickets and pays out an amount equalto the total ticket winnings.

The invention thereby provides many benefits for the operators of paperticket games. Since the player never needs to actually see the ticket,it does not need to be visually appealing, and the cost of printingtickets may be reduced. In the alternative, the machine may be designedto read conventional scratch-off lottery tickets. In such case, thelottery operator does not need to invest in the gaming machinery, andmay leave that investment decision to individual operators at the pointof sale. In either case, the cost of operating the game should decrease,or at least, not increase, while the volume of tickets sold shouldincrease. The increased volume and lower costs may permit higher payoutratios, attracting still more interest. Gamblers who enjoy playing slotmachines will have less incentive to travel to a casino to do so, andwill be more likely to play lottery ticket games, from which profits maybe returned to the public.

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus for gamingbased on a paper ticket will be afforded to those skilled in the art, aswell as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by aconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawingswhich will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing elements of an exemplary apparatusaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ticket reader according tothe invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary apparatus according to theinvention, that is designed to simulate a Las-Vegas style slot machine.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing exemplary steps of a method according tothe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for gaming basedon a durable ticket, that overcomes the limitations of the prior art. Inthe detailed description that follows, like element numerals are used toindicate like elements appearing in one or more of the figures.

A block diagram showing elements of an gaming machine 100 according tothe invention is shown in FIG. 1. Gaming machine 100 is adapted to awardprizes based on a prize amount indicated by a “instant-win” ticket 118.Machine 100 may be enclosed in a console, such as in one resembling aslot machine. In the alternative, machine 100 may be arranged in anydesired manner that permits interaction with a gamer and real-time playbased on information printed on ticket 118. Ticket 118 may be insertedinto machine 100 by a user, handled by an acceptor device 108 and readby ticket reader 106. More preferably, machine 100 contains a supply ofequivalent gaming tickets 116 accessible by ticket reader 106.

It should be appreciated that instant-win ticket 118 (and tickets 116)may be any durable ticket, coupon or other token article on which aprize amount (which may be zero) is indicated by a predetermined hiddenindicator, such as hidden characters 119. Thus, the ticket's prizeamount is predetermined at the time the ticket is made, but no prize isawarded until the ticket is played by revealing the hidden indicator.Lottery “scratcher” tickets are an example of a type of instant-winticket, in which the prize indicator is hidden by an opaque removablefilm. Other methods for hiding an indicator on a ticket or other articleexist, and a machine according to the invention may be adapted for usewith such articles.

Machine 100 includes a ticket reader 106 connected to a controller 102.Controller 102 is connected to a display 104 and a payment acceptor 108.It should be appreciated that the ticket reader 106 may be any suitabledevice for revealing the hidden indicator on ticket 118 (or tickets116), and thereby determining the ticket prize amount. It is notnecessarily limited to a device for reading a scratch-off lotteryticket. For example, it may be a device for reading coded magneticmedia, on which prize amounts may be encrypted. In general, theinvention is not concerned with specific mechanical, electrical, oroperating details of machine 100 such as may be appropriately selectedby one of ordinary skill based on the disclosure herein.

By way of example only, and not by way of limitation, a suitable ticketreader 150 for reading a scratch-off ticket is shown in FIG. 2. Ticket160 comprises a durable layer 162, covered by an opaque film layer 164.Although the term “paper tickets is used, the invention is not limitedto the use of paper tickets, and any durable material may be used. Layer164 may be a layer of foil or other reflective material adhered tosubstrate 164, covering pre-imprinted characters that indicate a prizeamount. Ticket 160 may be inserted into reader 150 as indicated by arrow170, and removed as indicated by arrow 171. The ticket may be guided anddriven through the machine by rollers 152. Opaque layer 164 may beremoved by an abrasive wheel 154, or any other suitable method. Debrisfrom the removed layer may be suctioned away as indicated by arrow 172.It may be advantageous to verify that the opaque layer 164 is presentand undamaged before accepting the ticket as valid, to ensure that usedtickets are not re-used. In the alternative, tickets may be marked withink or punched after being used, and such marks may be checked forbefore accepting a ticket as valid. Sensors (not shown) may be providedfor fraud detection, if desired. Characters that are revealed by removalof layer 164 are read by any suitable sensor, such as optical reader156. The characters may be in a machine-readable format, such as barcoded. In addition, or in the alternative, the revealed characters mayconvey encrypted information, for greater security.

In an embodiment of the invention, a gaming ticket with no removableopaque layer may be used, because modern coding and encryptiontechniques may render it unnecessary for concealing prize indicators.After reading and decrypting encrypted prize indicators from a ticket, agaming machine according to this embodiment may translate the prizeindicators to a human-readable format. The translated indicators may beprinted on the ticket or on a separate receipt, if it is desired to givethe user a record of the gaming transaction.

Referring again to FIG. 1, machine 100 includes a device 180 forautomatically accepting payment 120 from a prospective gamer. Payment120 may be in any acceptable format, including but not limited to atoken 122, coins of currency 124, a bill of currency 126, or a magneticcard 128 configured for credit or debit purchasing. Various devices forautomatically receiving and handling payments of such types are wellknown in the art. In addition, or in the alternative, device 108 (or anadjacent separate device, not shown) may accept a gaming ticket 118 forplay in the machine, and pass it to ticket reader 106. However, itshould generally be preferable to not accept tickets from users and drawthem exclusively from an internally-located source, such as ticketsupply 116. This should be more convenient, more secure, and easier toimplement, at least in the general case. Controller 102 may be connectedto acceptor 108 to receive information about the amount of paymentreceived, or for any other desired reason.

When payment is in the form of coins or tokens, the payment acceptor maytransfer accepted coins or tokens to a prize holder 110, which may takethe form of a currency bin. In the alternative, or in addition, theprize holder 110 may be stocked with prizes during servicing of machine100. In general, any fungible prizes may be used, such as the forms ofpayment 120 referenced above. Coins and tokens such as used in Las-Vegasstyle slot machines provide the advantage of generating a clinking soundwhen dispensed, to help hold the interest of the gamer. Prizes aredispensed from the prize holder 110 by a prize dispenser 112, operatedby controller 102. Again, many suitable prize holders and dispensers areknown in the art, and any suitable design may be employed. In thealternative, or in addition to a prize holder, machine 100 may awardprizes by printing and dispensing a redeemable voucher. One of ordinaryskill may equip the gaming machine with any suitable printer (not shown)for this purpose.

Gaming machine 100 further comprises a display 108 for simulating a gameof chance, connected to and controlled by controller 102. In anembodiment of the invention, display 108 comprises a Las Vegas-stylebank of cylinders (reels) imprinted with gaming symbols. In such case,the reels may be spun in response to a gamer pushing a button or pullingon a lever arm, as traditionally done with Vegas-style machines.Movement of the reels may be controlled by a suitable motion-controltechnique, so that the reels are caused to stop in a positioncorresponding to a prize amount indicated on a corresponding gamingticket or tickets. In the alternative, or in addition, display 108 maycomprise a video or flat panel display for display of any desiredsimulated game of chance, wherein the outcome is determined by a prizeamount indicated on ticket 118 (or tickets 116). Of course, onealternative is to simply display the amount of the prize won beforepaying it out. A gamer might also be given the option of crediting theamount won to another play or plays.

Users may be presented with various options for modifying the game. Oneoption may be to wager more than the minimum amount on a given ticket.For example, a one-dollar ticket may be wagered as a ten-dollar ticket,with the prize amount multiplied. Another option may be to wager morethan one ticket at a time. For example, total prizes for ten consecutivetickets may be awarded in a single play. Combinations of different typesof tickets may be played together for special multiplied prizes. Sometickets may award a large number of free spins each having apredetermined probability of winning. Complex levels of prizes may beawarded that increase as more tickets are played in a machine, therebyallowing individual machines to build up large “jackpots.” Such options,and many others that may be conceived and implemented on the gamingmachine, may greatly increase the excitement and potential winningsassociated with “paper ticket” play.

Control of the gaming functions of machine 100—comprising simulatinggames of chance based on ticket values and controlling payouts—is bycontroller 102. Controller 102 may comprise any suitable programmablecontroller. It may comprise a single microprocessor, or any number ofinterconnected microprocessors. All control functions need not beintegrated into a single “box,” to the contrary, the intelligence ofmachine 100 may be distributed among its components to any desireddegree, without departing from the scope of the invention. It should beapparent, however, that distributed intelligent components shouldcommunicate with each other in a coordinated fashion to perform theintended functions of machine 100. For conceptual simplicity, it isconvenient to refer to the central control functions as residing in a“controller,” whether single or multiple processing devices are used.

Controller 102 may be connected to a tone generator 115. Tone generator115 may be used to play bells, chimes, musical tones, and the likeduring gaming play, as known in the art of gaming machines. Such soundsmay engage the interest of the gamer and others in the vicinity.

Controller 102 may also be connected to a user input device 114, or anynumber of such input devices. On a Las Vegas style machine, one exampleof an input device is the pull arm that is used to initiate a spin ofthe reels. One such pull arm is shown as item 210 in FIG. 3. Otherexamples include push buttons 208 (also in FIG. 3), keypads, touchscreens (not shown), or any other desired input device.

An exemplary gaming machine 200 according to the invention, designed toresemble a Las-Vegas style slot machine, is shown in FIG. 3. Machine 200comprises a console 203 enclosing the elements of the machine. A batteryof reels 204 is provided for display of game results. Movement of thereels in battery 204 is controlled by a controller 204. Game play isinitiated by inserting payment in slot 212 and actuating lever arm 210to read a selected ticket and spin the reels. Before spinning the reels,a user may select a desired type of gaming ticket from window 218, whereticket rolls 220 of different types are displayed. Selection of a tickettype may be by pressing a corresponding one of buttons 208. Spenttickets are returned to the gamer via discharge slot 214. Prizes aredeposited in hopper 216. Machine 200 merely exemplifies a Las-Vegasstyle slot machine according to an embodiment of the invention. A gamingmachine according to the invention may be constructed in any otherdesired style. For example, the display may be in the form of a videogame, with the game of chance simulated by a video character overcomingvarious hazards to win prizes at different levels. When certain levelsare reached, prizes are paid.

In summary of the foregoing, exemplary steps of a method 300 accordingto the invention are shown in FIG. 4, for paying a prize based on ahidden indicator recorded on a gaming ticket. At step 302, payment isaccepted from a user. At step 304, a suitable gaming ticket is selectedbased on the deposited amount and any options selected by the user. Thegaming ticket may be selected from a plurality of different types ofgaming tickets presented as choices to the user. At step 306, the gamingticket having a hidden indicator is read to determine a prize amountindicated by the hidden indicator. At step 308, the ticket is marked toindicate that it has been read. At step 310, simulated game play isdetermined as needed to achieve a game result based on the prize amount.The game result may comprise a combination of symbols. At step 312, adisplay of a gaming machine is simulated until the game result isachieved. In an embodiment of the invention, a machine of a type thatrandomly selects a combination of symbols from a plurality of symbolcombinations, and pays a predetermined prize indicated by the selectedcombination of symbols is simulated. The predetermined game result isone of the winning combinations for the simulated machine. At theconclusion of the simulated play, the game result is displayed. If theresult is a winning result, the predetermined prize is paid at step 314.

Simulated machines may include Las Vegas style slot machines. In suchcase, the simulating step 312 may include initiating the spinning stepin response to a lever pulled by the user. In addition, the paying step314 may comprise releasing a plurality of coins into a hopper.

In case of a scratch-off paper ticket, the reading step 306 may includeremoving an opaque film covering the hidden indicator from the gamingticket. Step 306 may also include optically sensing the hiddenindicator.

In an embodiment of the invention, step 306 includes reading a pluralityof gaming tickets, and calculating a cumulative sum prize amount bysumming a prize amount indicated by each gaming ticket. In thisembodiment, determining step 310 may include determining a game resultbased on the cumulative sum prize amount.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of method and apparatus forgaming based on a paper ticket, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that certain advantages of the within system have beenachieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications,adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within thescope and spirit of the present invention. For example, an apparatusdesigned to look and operate like a Las Vegas style slot machine hasbeen illustrated, but it should be apparent that the inventive conceptsdescribed above would be equally applicable to any other type of slotmachine. It should also be apparent that the invention is not limited touse with lottery scratch-off tickets or other paper forms, and that anytangible medium for carrying concealed and predetermined gaminginformation may be used, without departing from the scope of theinvention. The invention is defined by the following claims.

1. An apparatus for gaming based upon an instant-win ticket, theinstant-win ticket comprising a durable substrate carrying apredetermined hidden indicator indicating a prize amount, the apparatuscomprising: an electronically controlled payment acceptor adapted toautomatically accept fungible payments from a gamer; an electronicallycontrolled display adapted to display continuously changing informationto the gamer; a controller connected to the display and to the paymentacceptor, the controller adapted to control information displayed on thedisplay and distribution of fungible prizes to a gamer, all in responseto a prize amount read from the instant-win ticket; and a ticket-readerconnected to the controller, the ticket reader adapted to read theinstant-win ticket and determine the prize amount indicated by thehidden indicator.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a ticket dispenser adapted to dispense the instant-win ticketto the ticket reader in operative response to a deposit of payment unitsin the payment acceptor.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe fungible payments comprise instant-win tickets, and the ticketreader is adapted to receive the instant-win tickets from the paymentacceptor.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fungibleprizes are selected from electronic payments, tokens, redeemablevouchers, coins, or bills of currency.
 5. The apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a prize dispenser adapted to dispense thefungible prizes from a secure prize holder adjacent to the display, inoperative response to the controller.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the secure prize holder is a currency bin.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises aplurality of cylinders imprinted with various symbols.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to controlrotation of the plurality of cylinders to simulate operation of aLas-Vegas style slot machine.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the ticket reader is adapted to read the instant-win ticket byremoving an opaque film from the durable substrate to reveal the hiddenindicator.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising atone generator adapted to generate a variety of tones as directed by thecontroller.
 11. A method for paying a prize based on a hidden indicatorrecorded on a gaming ticket, the method comprising the steps of:accepting payment from a user; reading a gaming ticket having a hiddenindicator to determine a prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator;determining a game result based on the prize amount, the game resultcomprising a combination of symbols; simulating a display of a slotmachine of a type that randomly selects a combination of symbols from aplurality of symbol combinations, and pays a predetermined prizeindicated by the selected combination of symbols, wherein the gameresult is a winning combination; displaying the game result; and payingthe prize amount.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising markingthe gaming ticket to indicate that the prize amount has already beendetermined.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the simulating stepcomprises spinning cylinders of a simulated Las Vegas style slotmachine.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the simulating step furthercomprises initiating the spinning step in response to a lever pulled bythe user.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the paying step comprisesreleasing a plurality of coins into a hopper.
 16. The method of claim11, wherein the reading step further comprises removing an opaque filmcovering the hidden indicator from the gaming ticket.
 17. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the reading step further comprises optically sensingthe hidden indicator.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprisingselecting the gaming ticket from a plurality of different types ofgaming tickets presented as choices to the user.
 19. The method of claim11, wherein the reading step further comprises reading a plurality ofgaming tickets, and calculating a cumulative sum prize amount by summingprize amounts indicated by each gaming ticket.
 20. The method of claim19, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the gameresult based on the cumulative sum prize amount.